Guides / Next-Up List and Calendar Actions
How do I get a next meeting countdown in my Mac menu bar?
A menu bar countdown app reads your calendar and shows the time left until your next event at the top of your screen, so you can glance up instead of opening a calendar window. Pick one that lists more than your very next meeting, lets you join the call in one click, and connects to the calendars you actually use. Connect your calendar once, grant access, and the countdown updates on its own.
What a useful menu bar countdown shows
A countdown only helps if it is attached to the right meeting and gives you something to do about it. A few things separate a handy one from a gimmick.
- More than one meeting. Seeing only the next event leaves you blind to the back-to-back that follows it.
- A live number, not a static time. A ticking countdown tells you at a glance whether you have time to refill your coffee.
- A way to act. Joining, snoozing or replying to an invite from the same spot saves a trip into the calendar.
- Calendar coverage. If you juggle a work calendar and a personal one, the app has to read more than one account.
- Low friction. It should sit quietly in the menu bar and stay out of the way until it matters.
How Donna's next-up list works
Donna lives in your Mac menu bar and shows your next three meetings, ranked, with a live countdown. Glance up and you see what is coming and how long you have before it starts.
Each morning, the day's agenda greets you at first unlock. You start with the whole picture before the first call, instead of piecing it together from a calendar grid.
The next-up list is part of the free plan. That means $0 forever, no card required, no trial and no expiry. You can see the full plan breakdown on the pricing page.
Calendar actions without opening your calendar
The list is more than a display. The things you would normally open a calendar window to do happen right from the menu bar.
- Nudges with Join and Snooze. Five minutes before a meeting, a nudge arrives. Tap Join, or Snooze it if you need a few more minutes.
- The call just opens. With auto-open on, Donna reads the conferencing link on the event and launches it at start time in the right app and the right browser profile. It works for Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams, and you can turn it off entirely.
- RSVP. Answer an invite from the menu bar.
- Reschedule. Move a meeting from the menu bar when your day shifts.
All of this is on the free plan too. If you want to see how it fits with the rest of Donna, the home page covers the full picture.
How to set it up
- Download Donna from the download page. It is a direct download from usedonna.io, and it needs macOS 13 (Ventura) or later on Apple silicon or Intel.
- Connect a calendar. Sign in with Google Calendar, or drop in an iCal link for Apple Calendar or another ICS feed such as Fastmail.
- Add any other accounts. Multiple accounts are welcome, and Google Calendar supports multiple calendars with full two-way sync.
- Check the menu bar. Your next three meetings appear with the live countdown.
Limits to know before you install
- Mac only for now. Donna needs macOS 13 or later. Windows is listed as coming soon, with no date.
- Two calendar types today. Google Calendar and Apple Calendar through iCal/ICS. Outlook and Microsoft 365 Calendar are planned, so they do not work yet.
- Auto-open covers three apps. Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Other call apps are not opened for you.
- Recording and summaries are separate. Automatic recording, transcripts and summaries are part of Pro ($8 per month or $80 per year). The countdown, nudges, RSVP and reschedule are not.
If all you want is a single ticking number for one calendar, a simpler utility may be enough. Donna fits when you have a lot of meetings and want the countdown to also get you into the call on time.
Try Donna. Records, transcribes and summarizes your meetings on your Mac, with nothing sent to a server.
Frequently asked questions
Is the next meeting countdown free?
Yes. The next-up list with live countdowns, nudges with Join and Snooze, and RSVP and reschedule from the menu bar are all on the free plan. There is no card, trial or expiry.
Does it work with Outlook or Microsoft 365 Calendar?
Not yet. Outlook Calendar is planned, with no date. Today Donna works with Google Calendar and with Apple Calendar through an iCal/ICS feed.
Can I use more than one calendar or account?
Yes. Donna supports multiple accounts, and Google Calendar supports multiple calendars with full two-way sync. You can also drop in an iCal link alongside them.
Does Donna join the call for me?
She opens it for you at start time in the right app and browser profile for Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams. A nudge with Join and Snooze arrives five minutes earlier, and you can turn auto-open off.
Does it run on Windows or iPhone?
No. Donna runs on macOS 13 or later only. Windows is coming soon, with no date given.